College: UF's Nixon, Patchan to miss opener

GAINESVILLE -- No. 4 Florida will be without starting left tackle Xavier Nixon and backup Matt Patchan for its opener.

Coach Urban Meyer ruled out both players Thursday, saying he's unsure when they will return. Nixon had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Patchan is recovering from a broken right wrist. He had a pin inserted in his wrist, which has been in a cast since early this month.

It's unclear how Florida will shuffle its line to fill the void against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 4. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert moved to the left side earlier this week, and center Mike Pouncey switched to right tackle. But Meyer says he expects Pouncey to stay at center because "I want the ball to hit the quarterback in the hands and not look like the Bad News Bears out there."

Florida freshmen Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley were back at practice Thursday, two days after skipping part of a session and setting off speculation they would transfer.

Meyer said Thursday that the highly touted defensive linemen are "all good."

Meyer acknowledged that Powell and Easley missed part of practice Tuesday, but he refused to say why or whether they were excused.

Rumors swirled the last two days about their absence, with talk ranging from the players being upset about getting yelled at during practice to them asking for their release and planning to transfer.

"No. No, no, no, no, no. Never," Meyer said. "The transfer word never came out of their mouths. They're good."

Powell, a defensive end from Moreno Valley, Calif., was considered the nation's top recruit. Easley, a defensive tackle from New York, was another five-star prospect.

USC stripped of 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California has been stripped of the 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy, which is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's top college football team.

The organization said Thursday that a committee of current and former officers voted to revoke the honor after USC was penalized for NCAA violations. It did not award the trophy to another school.

In June, USC received a two-year bowl ban, four years' probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of an entire year's games. The punishment was for improper benefits to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush dating to the Trojans' 2004 national championship.

The BCS has said it will likely force USC to vacate its title but won't act until the NCAA hears the Trojans' appeal.

USC said it is in the process of returning the Grantland Rice Trophy.

"Due to the NCAA penalties, we understand the actions taken by the Football Writers Association of America, and we will abide by that ruling," new USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement.

Texas and USC schedule games for 2017 and '18

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas and Southern California, who last met in the Rose Bowl in 2006, have scheduled games in 2017 and 2018. The Longhorns will travel to Los Angeles in 2017 with the Trojans going to Austin the next year.

Texas beat the Trojans 41-38 in the 2005 season BCS championship game to claim the Longhorns' first undisputed national championship since 1969.

UNC: Academic violations possible

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The investigation of North Carolina's football program has expanded into possible academic misconduct involving players and a woman who has also worked as a tutor for coach Butch Davis' son.

Athletic director Dick Baddour, speaking at a news conference Thursday night, declined to identify the players or say how many may be involved. He said there is no timetable for resolution, but "it is likely that the review would extend beyond the start of the season."

If that happens, he said the school will decide if those players will play. No. 18 North Carolina opens Sept. 4 against No. 21 LSU in Atlanta. Baddour declined to specify what the possible violations were, only that they involved "a student tutor and student-athletes on the football team."